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Watertown Man Charged with 20 Counts of Possessing Child Pornography

Man in mugshot next to text: "Watertown Man Charged with 20 Counts of Possessing Child Pornography," over blue police lights. Mood is serious.

Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - A Watertown man is facing 20 felony counts of possessing child pornography following an investigation by the South Dakota Internet Crimes against Children (ICAC) Task Force.


Blake Timothy Stephens, 25, was arrested on February 6, 2026, after law enforcement executed a search warrant at his residence located at 612 5th St SE.


The investigation began in late November 2025 when the ICAC Task Force received several CyberTips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). These tips linked a specific Google account to the possession of illicit material.


According to the probable cause statement filed by Detective Sergeant Jeremy Bjerke of the Watertown Police Department, a search warrant for the suspect’s Google account was granted in January 2026. Review of the data revealed at least 20 videos classified as child pornography. The material reportedly depicted juveniles between the ages of five and ten.


During a police interview on the day of his arrest, Stephens reportedly admitted to utilizing the email address associated with the CyberTips. He claimed he had clicked on a link provided by someone online without fully understanding its contents and believed he had not actually downloaded the material.


Legal Proceedings and Bond

The Codington County State’s Attorney’s Office has formally charged Stephens with 20 counts of Possessing Child Pornography, each a Class 4 felony under South Dakota law.


·        Bond Amount: Magistrate Judge Gary W. Schumacher set a $10,000 cash bond.

·        Bond Conditions: If released, Stephens must remain in South Dakota, have no contact with victims, and have no unsupervised contact with any minors.

·        Next Appearance: An initial bond hearing is scheduled for February 10, 2026, at 12:59 PM.


Stephens is currently listed as representing himself (Pro Se) in the matter, while the State is represented by attorneys Alison M. Bakken and Joseph N. Thronson.


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